Ironbark and Flannel Flower circuit

1 Hr

2.1 km Circuit

107 m

Moderate track

A great circuit walk, covering two of the popular walking tracks and some of the great sights in the upper section of the Rumbalara Reserve. You will enjoy some really nice forest walking and fantastic views across various parts of Gosford and the surrounding areas. Note that the entrance gate on Dolly Ave, for the upper section of Rumbalara, is locked at 8pm each evening.

Rumbalara Reserve

Rumbalara Reserve lies just to the east of the Gosford CBD and is part of Gosford’s Coastal Open Space System (COSS). There is an extensive set of well marked walking tracks within the reserve. Yaruga Picnic Area has free electric BBQs while both Yaruga and Nurrunga picnic areas have toilets, picnic tables, nearby lookouts and proximity to walking tracks. The picnic areas are accessed via Dolly Ave, Springfield, with the gate being locked at 8pm each evening

. The Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre, at the end of Donnison St, Gosford, is one of several good access points to the walking tracks in the lower section of the reserve. More info.

Yaruga Picnic Area

This picnic area is right beside Dolly Ave, within the Rumbalara Reserve, Gosford. The facilities include free electric BBQs, picnic tables, toilets and garbage bins. There are information boards with details of the walking tracks and other features of the reserve. There are a couple of lookout points at the edge of the picnic area with great views out across Gosford and the surrounding areas.

(0km) Yaruga Picnic Area BBQs → Flannel Flower walk signpost

720 m

17 mins

30m

-57m

Moderate track

From the BBQs, this walk goes across the picnic area, keeping the road to the right. The walk passes the information board, to the left, and follows the paved path toward the nearby toilet block. The walk turns left just before the toilet block and follows the ‘Nurrunga Picnic Area’ arrow down the paved steps and along the bush track. The walk descends gently for a while with numerous sandstone steps, then meanders around the side of the hill, for some distance. Ignoring a bush track, to the left, and another soon after, to the right, the walk continues for some distance until reaching an intersection with a management trail, with a ‘Flannel Flower Track’ signpost pointing back to the ‘Yaruga Picnic Area’.

Flannel Flower

Actinotus helianthi, popularly known as the Sydney flannel flower, is frequently spotted by spring-time bushwalkers in the Sydney region. Generally growing up to 50 cm, the stem, branches and leaves of the plant are a pale grey in colour, covered in downy hair (rather like flannel in texture). More info.

Moderate track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail down the hill, towards the views of Gosford. After a very short distance, the walk arrives at an intersection with a paved path, signposted ‘Casuarina Track’.

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Nurrunga Picnic Area’ arrow along the paved track, keeping the views of Gosford to the left. The walk climbs gently for a short distance before arriving at a track junction with signposts for the ‘Ironbark Loop’, the ‘Casuarina Track’ and the ‘Flannel Flower Track’.

Rumbalara Reserve Flora and Fauna

The reserve is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. The vegetation types range from the relatively dry ‘Coastal Narrabeen Ironbark Forest’ to pockets of ‘Coastal Warm Temperate Rainforest’. Commonly seen birds include Kookaburras, Eastern Rosellas and Magpies. Rarer birds such as the Glossy Black Cockatoo and Swift Parrot are sometimes sighted here as well. Sugar Gliders, Brush-tailed possums, Blue-tounged lizards and Tree snakes can be seen in the reserve if you are patient and lucky enough.

Moderate track

Turn left: From the track junction, this walk follows the ‘Loop to Gosford’ arrow (Casuarina Track) along the bush track, directly away from the nearby car park. After a short distance, the walk arrives at an intersection signposted for the ‘Casuarina Track’ and the ‘Ironbark Loop’. At the time of writing, this part of the Casuarina Track, going down the hill, was closed

.Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Nurrunga Picnic Area’ arrow (Ironbark Loop sign), along the bush track, keeping the views of Gosford to the left. After a short distance, the walk arrives at an intersection, with an ‘Ironbark Loop’ signpost pointing back ‘To Casuarina Track’, beside a sculpture of Matthew Flinders.

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track in the opposite direction to the ‘To Casuarina Track’ arrow, leaving the sculpture behind on the right. The walk then goes across the end of the picnic area to the sculpture of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.

Sculptures in Rumbalara

There are four bronze figurative sculptures in the Rumbalara Reserve that were ‘commissioned in the series “Salute to Famous Australians”, which includes Captain Charles Sturt, Edward Eyre, and Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.’ Matthew Flinders is the fourth in the series. They were ‘commissioned by Sara Lee Kitchens (Australia) Pty Ltd and Gosford City Council for the State Bicentennial Celebrations 1987.’. Smith and Flinders are the most easily reached, at the Nurrunga picnic area. More info.

Moderate track

Turn right: From the sculpture, this walk goes along the edge of the picnic area, in the direction pointed by Sir Charles’ raised right elbow, keeping the picnic area to the right. The walk soon arrives at an ‘Ironbark Loop’ sign on the northern edge of the picnic area.Continue straight: From this ‘Ironbark Loop’ sign, this walk follows the ‘To Casuarina Track’ arrow along the management trail, initially keeping the picnic area to the right. The walk continues, passing a toilet block, to the right, then arrives at a sign, beside the road, pointing back to ‘Nurrunga Picnic Area’.Continue straight: From the ‘Ironbark Loop’ sign, the walk immediately crosses the road and follows the bush track a little to a track junction with signposts for the ‘Ironbark Loop’, the ‘Casuarina Track’ and the ‘Flannel Flower Track’Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Loop to Yaruga Picnic Area’ arrow between the metal posts and across the edge of the small car park. The walk immediately crosses the road to an intersection with a track, with a ‘Flannel Flower Track’ signpost pointing back to ‘Yaruga Picnic Area’.

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Loop to Yaruga Picnic Area’ arrow along the track, going gently down the hill. The walk meanders gently downhill for a short distance before passing under some power lines and continuing a little further to an intersection with a management trail.Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail up the hill, keeping the nearby power lines to the right. After a short distance, the walk passes a management trail (to the right) and continues, passing some sort of underground pipe access point, on the left. After a while, the trail reaches an intersection with tracks to the left and right.

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track up the steps, leaving the nearby water reservoir to the left. The walk climbs gently for a short distance to an intersection with the road.Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the road gently up the hill towards the sandstone walls of the nearby Yaruga picnic area. The walk climbs the first set of steps on the left, near the ‘Yaruga Picnic Area’ signpost, and goes across the picnic area to the nearby electric BBQs.

Maps for the Ironbark and Flannel Flower circuit walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-rumbalarares-iaffc
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.
http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_weather_danger.php?walkid=nsw-rumbalarares-iaffc
Forecast snapshot